Service compartment



Oct. 29, 1968 G, SIM N 3,407,998

SERVI CE COMPARTMENT I Filed Jan. '16, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

LUTHER G. SIMJIAN EM (5. KM

AGENT.

Oct. 29, 1968 L. G. SIMJIAN SERVICE COMPARTMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1967 FIG. 10

FIG.

INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

Oct. 29, 1968 GTSIMJIAN 3,407,998

SERVICE COMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 16, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 full" INVENTOR.

LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

Oct. 29, 1968 SIMJIAN 3,407,998

SERV I CE COMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 16, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F l6. s 63 '1 1 i Li H 4 '1 P INVENTOR. l LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

United States Paten 3,407,998 SERVICE COMPARTMENT Luther G. Simjian, Laurel Lane, Greenwich, Conn. 06830 Filed Jan. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 609,418

19 Claims. (Cl. 23243.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A service compartment accessible by door means alter natively from one of two sides for respectively receiving an article or rendering the received article available for removal from the compartment. The compartment is provided with lock means, operable by key means. Thev key means becomes inaccessible for unauthorized use respon sive to the operation of the lock means for gaining access to the article disposed in the compartment and the subsequent motion of the door means.

This invention refers to service compartments and, more specifically, has reference to a service compartment adapted to receive an article which is to be rendered available to a patron in response to the patron providing an appropriate key means which operates door mean associated with the compartment.

This invention is related also to my copending applications for US. Letters Patent, Ser. No. 466,705 filed June 24, 1965, entitled, Service Compartment, now US. Patent No. 3,300,016 dated Jan. 24, 1967, and Ser. No. 598,027 filed Nov. 30, 1966, entitled, Article Delivery System, and is related further to my earlier US. Patent No. 3,130,395 dated Apr. 21, 1964, entitled, Service Area With Compartments.

Quite specifically, this invention relates to certain alternative design features and improvements which endow the service compartment disclosed hereafter with novel and unique features not disclosed in the patent and-applications stated heretofore.

With reference to the drawings: I

FIGURE 1 is a front and side perspective view of my new service compartment;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 1 showing the lock and key means in an alternative position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, partly in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view along section line 4-4 in FIGURE 3; I

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along line 55 in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section of the compartment taken along section line 66 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic illustration showing the difsection, of

means of pins 14 and pillow blocks 15..The platform is adapted to receive and support thereupon an article A which may comprise a tray having a meal ordered by a patron. As seen in FIGURE 1, the front will be consid-, ered the side exposed to a patron while the opposite, rear, sidewillbe considered the compartment servicingside.

Referring still to FIGURE 1, the door 13 as shown is disposed in the closed position, preventing access to platform 12 from the patrons side, i.e. the front side. This closed position of the, door 13 is the first position and, while the door is,in this first position, no access is available to the interiorof the compartment from this first side. In. FIGURE 1, a lock means 16 associated with the door is covered by a :cover 17 and is not accessible, therefore, for operation by a patron who may be in receipt of an appropriate key by virtue of having ordered and paid for a m eal. The compartment is accessible, however, from the servicing side, second side, when the door 13 isin its first psition as is clearly evident in FIGURE 1 and, hence, the compartment can be provided with the purchased meal or article A. The arrow 18 points through the opening used for providing the article in the compartment.

When an article A, after having been prepared, is placed into the compartment from the servicing (second) side, one or more sensing switches S1 associated with the platform 12 sense such condition and the lock cover 17, previously precluding access to the lock means 16 since no article was present, snaps open as is shown in FIGURE 2. The lock cover 17 is mounted for pivotal motion to the frame 20, FIGURE 4, and a spring 21 engaging the .cover urges the cover toward its raised position, i.e. exposing the tumbler lock 16. When no article is on the compartment platform 12, sensing switch S1 is not actuated and a not-energized solenoid S2, by means of an associated latch 22, causes the cover 17 to be in closed position.

The tumbler lock 16, mounted for motion with the door 12, is operable by inserting an appropriate key which is issued to a patron. The lock 16 has fastened thereto a cam 25 which is attached to the lock plug and rotated in response to the lock plug being rotated by the key 26. When the door is locked in its first position, preventing access to the platform from the patron side, the condition shown in FIGURES l and 4, the cam 25 (solid lines FIG- URE 5) engages a spring biased lever 31, pivoting about a pin 32 and mounted to a bracket 33 which is aflixed to the stationary frame structure 10.

Proceeding now from the condition shown in FIGURE 2, that is an article being present in the compartment, the patron inserts a key 26 issued to him and rotates the lock to unlock the door for motion from its first position. The

cam 25 responsive to turning the key assumes the rotated ferent positions which the door means assumes during a cycle of operation;

FIGURE 8 depicts schematically an alternative construction of the door means;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram, and

FIGURE 10 is an explanatory sketch showing the cam motion provided by the lock means.

Referring now to the figures and to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6m particular, there is shown a pedestal 10 which supports at a convenient distance from the floor level a service compartment 11. The compartment 11 includes as its main element a horizontal stationary platform 12 which is provided with an arcuate door means 13 having a front cover and two side plates and being mounted for pivotal motion relative to the platform and'pedestal by position shown by the dashed lines 25A in FIGURE 5. Also, the cam 25 when rotated to its unlocked position actuates the switch S6 which is fastened to the frame structure. For the moment, no action takes place until the patron recloses the spring biased cover 17, which condition is sensed by a switch S3, FIGURE 3. By virtue of this procedure, the patron no longer has access to the key which now. is hidden and inaccessible underneath the cover 17. A motor 27, FIGURE 4, by means of pulleys 28, 29 and a drive belt 30, is actuated and causes pivotal motion of the door 13 from its first position to its second position, the latter position being defined as the condition when the platform 12 is fully accessible from the patrons side for enabling removal of the article A while being closed off for access to the platform from the servicing side, the rear side.

Patented Oct. 29, 1968 pass past the pin 40, the cam and hence the plug of the lock is rotated by 90 degrees, causing the lock to resume its previous or normal position. The several stages of cam rotation in response to the passing of the cam past the stationary pin are indicated in FIGURE 10, steps A B and C. FIGURE 10A shows the condition when the rotated cam (unlocked lock) first encounters the pin 40, while FIGURE 10C shows the again normalized cam position.

The lock 16 is provided with a key ejection spring, such as is well known in the art, i.e. the key, unless depressed in the normal position, is ejected from the lock plug. As the lock plug is returned to its normal position, FIGURE 10C, at which time the lock with the door has travelled to the dashed position shown in FIGURE 4, the ejection spring of the lock ejects the key from the plug and the now ejected key is propelled into a conduit as indicated by the dashed arrow 46A in FIGURE 4. The key 26 falls onto a tray 46 which is on the servicing side of the compartment and thus the key is not accessible to the patron who meanwhile is gaining or has gained access to the article A. The key is available, however, to authorized personnel for return to the cashier. The door 13 reaches its fully second position at which time the edge of the arcuate door actuates the limit switch S4 which interrupts the motor drive circuit.

In order to reload the compartment with a new article, servicing personnel operating on the servicing side, rear side as seen in FIGURE 1, cause the door 13 to be returned to its first position, the position shown in FIG- URES 1 and 4. By virtue of the spring associated with the lever 31, the normalized cam 25 is able to depress the upstanding left edge of the lever, pass over the lever and thereafter latch as shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 shows the three main conditions of the compartment. FIGURE 7A shows the door 13 in its first position, the lock cover 17 being open for access to the lock since an article A is present on the platform, FIG- URE 7B shows the condition of the compartment after, a patron has supplied the key, operated the lock and caused the door to assume its alternative second position. The article A is available to the patron while the opposite, servicing, side of the compartment is closed off. FIGURE 7C shows the compartment door 13 returned to its first position, the lock cover 17 covering the lock in order to prevent access to the lock and operation of the door since no article has as yet been deposited on the platform and, hence, no article is available for issuance to the patron.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram. All switches, the solenoid and the relay are shown in position when the door 13 is in its first position and the compartment platform 12 is ready to receive an article. As an article, represented by the outline A, is placed on the platform, the sensing switch S1 is actuated, energizing the solenoid S2 which releases the lock cover 17, causing the cover to be raised. The open lock cover exposes the lock 16, FIGURE 2, and operates the switch S3, lowering the movable contact arm. When the patron inserts the appropriate key in the lock and rotates the plug for unlocking the door, the locking cam 25 associated with the plug moves out of the way and permits switch S6 to be closed, signifying that the door 13 has been unlocked. Closed switch S6 applies power via the lowered contact of switch S3 to the coil of the relay K1 which locks up via the associated contact *Kl-l and switch S4. Contact K1-3 removes power from the solenoid S2, permitting the lock cover to relatch when depressed hereafter. The key being turned in the lock is retained therein while the remaining control circuit is ready to be started for providing access to the article A.

In order to proceed, the cover 17 is manually depressed and relatches, thus applying power to the motor 27 via the closed switches S6, S3 and relay contact K1-2, causing the motor to run in a direction to pivot the compartment door from its first position to its second position. The door moves until it actuates the limit switch S4, actuation of which drops out the relay K1. The article then is available for removal by the patron. When a new article is ready to be placed upon the platform of the compartment, an attendant manually operates the switch S5, causing the compartment door to return to the closed position, ready for the next key holding patron.

If the door is to be returned to its first position fully automatically, responsive to the removal of the article A as sensed by the switch S1, a suitable relay is actuated for causing the motor to start and return the door 13 to its first position. -A limit sensing switch, similar in function to switch S4, will be provided to interrupt the motor circuit when the door reaches its end position.

An alternative compartment door design is shown in FIGURE 8. Two doors 60 and 61 are mounted for reciprocating motion to alternatively expose or close off one of the compartment sides. The doors are linked by a chain 62 driven by a motor 63 over sprockets 64, 65. As seen in FIGURE 8, the door 60 is closed and prevents access to the platform 70 from a first side while at the same time access is available from the opposite side, the door 61 being raised. Conversely, when the door 61 is lowered, the door 60 is raised and the reverse access condition to the platform 70 prevails. It will be apparent that instead of vertically moving doors, horizontally moving doors may be substituted without deviating from the principles disclosed.

In a further alternative embodiment the stationary platform may be replaced by a movable band which transports the article A onto the platform and also from the platform toward the patrons side out of the compartment.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention and several modifications have been indicated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various further changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the broad principle and intent of this invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A service compartment comprising: a platform for holding an article; door means disposed for precluding access to said platform; lock means, operable by appropriate key means inserted therein, coupled between said door means and said platform for precluding, when in the locked condition, opening of said door means for providing access to said platform; first control means for denoting the presence of an article on said platform, and second control means coupled to said first control means and said lock means for rendering an inserted key means inaccessible for surreptitious removal therefrom in response to said first control means denoting the presence of an article on said platform, and said lock means having been changed from said locked condition to the opened condition for access to said platform. 2. A service compartment comprising: a platform for holding an article; door means disposed for precluding access to said platform and an article disposed thereupon; lock means, operable by appropriate key means inserted therein, coupled between said door means and said platform for precluding 'when in the locked condition, opening of said door means for providing access to said platform; first control means for denoting the presence of an article on said platform, and second control means coupled to said first control means and said door means for rendering a key means inserted in said lock means inaccessible for surreptitious removal therefrom in response to said first control means denoting the presence of an article on said platform, said lock means being changed from said locked condition to the opened condition, and 'said door means being opened for access to said platform.v

3. A service compartment comprising:

a platform for holding anarticle; i

a .door means mounted for motion relative to said platform for alternatively rendering said platform accessible from a first side or an opposite second side in response to said door means being moved respectively to a first or to a second position;

lock means operable by key means mounted in cooperative relation between said platform and'said door means for locking said door means to said platform in said first position, whereby to preclude access to said platform from said first side,-and enabling door motion and access to said platform when said door-*means is unlocked, and

control means disposed for engaging said lock means and for removing a key means inserted therein in response to such key means changing said lock means from its locked condition to its unlocked, condition ,and in response to said door means being moved from said first position. K

4. A service compartment as set forth in claim 3 and including motive means coupled to said door means for moving said door means responsive to the actuation of said lock means by an appropriate key means.

5. A service compartment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lock means is a tumbler lock adapted to be turned by an appropriate key and said control means includes a means for ejecting said key from said lock means.

6. A service compartment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lock means is mounted for motion with said door means relative to said control means.

7. A service compartment as set forth in claim 3 and including means asociated with said lock means for precluding, responsive to the motion of said door means from its first to its second position, unauthorized access to said key means.

8. A service compartment as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means precluding access to said key means is a cover which precludes access to such key means subsequent to said lock means bein changed to unlock said door means from said platform in said first position and the [motion of said door means from its first position to its second position.

9. A service copartment comprising:

a platform for holding an article;

a door mounted for motion relative to said platform for alternatively rendering said platform accessible from a first side or an opposite second side in response to said door being moved respectively to a first or to a second position;

motive means coupled to said door for causing pivotal motion of said door from its first to its second position and vice versa;

key operated lock means mounted in cooperative relation between said door and said platform for locking said door in said first position whereby to preclude access to said platform from said first side while providing access to said platform from said second side, and for unlocking said door to provide access to said platform from said first side;

control means coupled to said lock means and to said motive means for causing said motive means to move said door from its first position to its second position in response to the insertion of an appropriate key in said lock means and the actuation of said lock means by such key, whereby said key is temporarily retained in said lock means, and

means disposed for engaging said lock means for removing said key from said lock means in response to the motion of said door.

10. A service compartment as set forth in claim 9 an including sensing. means for sensing the presence of an articlelon said platform, and further means causing said lock means to be operable .responsive to said sensing means determining the presence of an article and being inoperable in the absence of an article.

11. A service compartment as set forth in claim 9 wherein said door is arcuate and'mounted for pivotal motion. 1

12. A service compartment as set forth in claim 9 wherein said lock means is disposed for motion with said door.

l 13. A service compartment as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lock means is turnable and said means disposed for engaging said lock means for removing a key includes a cam means adapted to cause the key to be turned for removal from said lock means.

'14. A service compartment as set forth in claim 9 and including means associated with said compartment for preventing unauthorized access to said key immediately subsequent to its removal from said lock means.

.15. Aservice compartment as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for removing said key includes means forejecting the key from said lock means and the means associated withsaid compartment for preventing ,unauthorized access includes a conduit disposed for receiving the ejected key.

16. A service compartment comprising:

a platform for holding an article;

an arcuate door mounted for pivotal motion relative to said platform for alternatively rendering said platform accessible from a first side or an opposite second side in response to said door being moved respectively to a first or to a second position;

motive means coupled to said door for causing pivotal motion of said door from its first to its second position and vice versa;

key operated lock means mounted to said door and in cooperative relation with said platform for locking said door in said first position whereby to preclude access to said platform from said first side while providing access from said second side;

control means coupled to said lock means and to said motive means for causing said motive means to move said door from its first position to its second position in response to the insertion of an appropriate key in said lock means and operation of said lock means to cause unlocking of said door, whereby said key is temporarily retained in said lock means;

means for rendering said key subsequent to its actuation of said lock means inaccessible from said first side;

means disposed for engaging said lock means for causing the removal of said key from said lock means in response to the motion of said door from its first position to its second position, and

means for causing said door to return from its second position to its first position.

17. A service compartment as set forth in claim 16, said door precluding access to said platform from said first side when said door is in said first position, and precluding access to said platform from said second side when said door is in said second position.

18. A service compartment as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for rendering said key inaccessible comprises a latchable cover over said lock means which, when latched, encloses the key disposed in said lock means; said lock means is provided with spring loaded key ejection means for ejecting the key; and said means engaging said lock means is adapted to turn said lock means to itsnormal position for causing ejection of the key responsive to said spring loading.

19. A service compartment comprising:

a platform for holding an article;

an arcuate door mounted for pivotal motion relative to said platform for alternatively rendering said plat- 7. form accessible from a first side or an opposite second side in response to said door being positioned respectively to a first or to a second position;

motive means coupled to said door for causing pivotal motion of said door from said first to said second position;

lock means operable by key means mounted to said door for locking said door in said first position whereby to preclude access to said platform from said first side while providing access to said platform from said second side, and said lock means including means for temporarily retaining a key therein responsive to the key changing said lock means from its locked to its unlocked condition;

a latchable cover disposed in cooperative relation with said lock means and adapted to assume a first latched position in which said cover bars access to said lock means for insertion of a key, and adapted to assume a second unlatched position in which the cover provides for the insertion of a key in said lock means;

first sensing means disposed for sensing the presence of an article on said platform;

second sensing means disposed for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of said door responsive to the operation of said lock means;

third sensing means disposed for sensing the position of said cover;

further control means coupled to said motive means 8 and said first, second and third sensing means for causing (a) said cover to assume its second position in response to said first sensing means sensing the presence of an article on said platform; (b) said motive means to move said door from its first position to its second position in response to said second sensing means sensing the unlocked condition of said door and said third sensing means sensing said cover to be in its first position, and means for removing, responsive to the motion of said door, said temporarily retained key from said lock means and for storing the removed key at a location disposed to prevent unauthorized access to the removed key from said first side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,052 4/1919 Jaeger 23 243.4 1,570,207 1/ 1926 Craw 232-43.4 1,739,900 12/ 1929 Giambra 232-434 2,100,212 11/1937 Ferrer 23243.4 3,110,438 11/1963 Leckner 232-43.4 3,130,395 4/1964 Sirnjian 232-434 3,300,016 1/1967 Simjian.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner. 

